Livingstone the only CQ shire with a new mayor

Andy Ireland, 63, who grew up in Yeppoon and studied accountancy at CQU in the 1970s, was the Livingstone Shire Council CEO between 2014 and 2016, and said it was some of that experience that will stand him in good stead now.

He received 9496 votes or 46 per cent in the March 28 poll while long-standing local government figure Bill Ludwig polled 8484 votes or 41pc, and Lynelle Burns had 12.6pc.

Mr Ludwig had been a councillor with the Rockhampton Regional Council and successfully contested the inaugural Livingstone Shire Council mayoralty when it de-amalgamated on January 1, 2014.

Mayor-elect Ireland said the constant talent drain of young people and streets of empty shops in the Capricorn Coast shire had prompted him to put his hand up.

"I want a council that's open, transparent and accountable," he said.

A born and bred resident who has been enthusiastically returned further down the coastline is Gladstone Regional Council mayor Matt Burnett.

Cr Burnett has been in local government since 2000, five years as deputy mayor before being elected mayor in 2016.

He received 73.6pc of the vote on March 28, or 23,309 votes compared to his opponent Michael Fearns on 8346 votes.

Rockhampton voters got to learn the full make-up of their council at the start of the week, when Margaret Strelow was confirmed as mayor for a fifth term.

She finished with 69pc of the vote against rival Chris Hooper.

There was be one new face - Shane Latcham - when Rockhampton councillors met for the first time on Wednesday.

Tony Williams, Ellen Smith and Drew Wickerson were returned unopposed for their divisions while Neil Fisher, Cherie Rutherford and Donna Kirkland fought off their challengers.

Cr Fisher replaced Cr Rutherford as deputy mayor at Rockhampton's post-election meeting on Wednesday with a 7/1 vote in his favour, and still holds the council's airport portfolio.

He said there would be an even greater need for an east/west air route, one of the main issues he pushed in the portfolio in the previous term.

"I feel we were very close prior to all the COVID-19 restrictions so I'd like to continue with it," he said.

With the retirement of Rose Swadling in division one, Shane Latcham will be the new councillor there with 49pc of the vote, compared to 29pc for Sherie Ashton and 221.8pc for Vince Robertson.

Three mayors in the Central Queensland region, Banana's Nev Ferrier, Isaac's Anne Baker and Central Highlands' Kerry Hayes were all elected unopposed when nominations closed at the end of February but on Thursday afternoon, voters were still waiting for councillor positions to be declared in each of those shires.

One of two councillor positions in Isaac had been declared, with Sandy Moffatt the new division two councillor, receiving 55.3pc of the vote, compared to 44.6pc for Nick Wheeler.

Isaac councillors elected unopposed were Kelly Vea Vea, Gina Lacey, Simon West, Lynette Jones and Jane Pickels.

Division eight voters were still awaiting a declared outcome, although with 72pc of the vote counted, Vivienne Coleman had 51pc of the vote.

Gladstone and Livingstone's polls were fully declared by Thursday.

This means that Gladstone's eight councillors will be Darryl Branthwaite, Christopher Bruce, Glenn Churchill, Kahn Goodluck, Richard Hansen, Natalia Muszkat, Desley O'Grady, and Chris Trevor.

The last six are existing councillors.

The six people that will make up the Livingstone Shire Council are Adam Belot, Pat Eastwood, Andrea Friend, Nigel Hutton, Tanya Lynch and Glenda Mather.

Ms Lynch and Ms Friend are the two new faces in the Livingstone boardroom.